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Organize by 'Because' Statements

This is a simple way to outline the essential reasons for taking or defending a position. Make a list of answers that satisfy the question around which your position is focused. For instance, a list of "because" statements for the claim "Grades should be abolished in non-major courses" might look like this:

because grades encourage students to choose easy courses

because grades get in the way of learning

because low grades hurt the chances of getting a good job

because non-major students shouldn't be held to the same standards as majors

Do you see how easy it will be to turn this list into sections of an argument? Each "because" statement becomes a sub-claim, or section, that can be connected logically to each other. If properly supported, with credible evidence, each can contribute to a persuasive argument with which to convince your audience that your position is the correct one.